Arroz con Camarón Seco – Rice with Dried Shrimp

Arroz con Camarón Seco – Rice with Dried Shrimp

Nothing excites my 7 yr old daughter more than hotels and shrimp. She loves weekend trips and even helps my husband chose the perfect place to lay her tiny head. When we dine there had better be shrimp on the menu. Because a 7 yr old needs options: fried, with pasta, soup or how about stuffed she loves them all.

Last year when momo (grandma) presented her with a plate of rice studded with dried shrimp she was thrilled. She gave me that look. You know the look of please add this to our weekly dinner rotation and so I have. Rice lightly toasted until golden brown swimming in vegetable stock and flavored with dried shrimp. In this recipe I have added the flavors my girl enjoys, celery and peas, but adapt it to suit your cravings with carrots, zucchini or tomatoes. Taste for seasoning as the shrimp are dried with salt which concentrates their flavor. I purchased my shrimp at my local fruit stand, but they can be found in any Latino or Asian market.

Dried shrimp are available in various sizes and are used to make caldos (soups), broth, shrimp patties, filling for tamales and can be grinded and added to salsas, moles and soups. I buy several packages and keep them in the freezer along with my chiles. Dried shrimp is also sold ground to a fine powder (camarón molido). I have purchased this powder at my local tienda, but I prefer the whole shrimp as I can soak or rinse the shrimp to remove excess salt. The powder I find can sometimes be over powering in flavor.

A proud Tejana who feels lucky to have the best of both worlds, Vianney was happily raised in Texas by Mexican parents. Her blog name Sweet Life refers to living a Sweet Life enriched with the spice of two diverse worlds enveloped with the memories of growing up in a Mexican household.

What a sweet post and recipe:) I also loved shrimps as a little girl, and still do. You know I remember those camarones secos during lent. My mom would also make some potato patties with the powdered ones. I hated those, sshh don’t tell her Spicie Foodie recently posted..Spring and Arugula, Maché Strawberry Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Well, I know exactly that look as I have a nine year old son who gives me several looks regarding food lol. I have never tried dried shrimps, neither do I know if they are sold here in Greece, but I guess I can make this beautiful rice dish with the usual ones! It a very colorful and tasty dish!Katerina recently posted..Mastic Scented Galaktoboureko with Kataifi Phylo

Your daughter has GOOD TASTE! And she sounds like such a good eater! I’ll have to keep an eye out for dried shrimp, since this whole meal sounds so tasty!Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Irish Car Bomb Moon Pies

What a unique and tasty recipe! Love the way you toast the rice before adding the broth. What a complementary flavor to the dried shrimp! I make a spinach roll with dried shrimp and love the flavor, but haven’t done much else with them. This recipe is a keeper! Bookmarked! BTW – It surprises me that someone as young as your daughter is such a lover of shrimp! Your story was a fun read and a great way to start the day!mjskit recently posted..Kabocha Squash and Fennel Soup

Meet Sweet Life

A proud Tejana who feels lucky to have the best of both worlds, Vianney was happily raised in Texas by Mexican parents. Her blog name Sweet Life refers to living a Sweet Life enriched with the spice of two diverse worlds enveloped with the memories of growing up in a Mexican household.